Ricky Ponting Praises MS Dhoni's Enduring Legacy in Cricket

Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting has heaped praise on MS Dhoni, the former Indian captain who continues to inspire with his performances for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Ponting, speaking on the latest episode of The ICC Review, lauded Dhoni's enduring legacy in the sport. He highlighted Dhoni's ability to bounce back from a difficult season two years ago and regain his impact on the game.

"I think it will be exactly the same now...they might not get him through the whole season. They might think about leaving him out for a game and resting him up here and there to make sure that they're getting the best out of him," Ponting said.

As a two-time World Cup-winning captain himself, Ponting understands the challenges of balancing playing and mentoring roles. He believes Dhoni's experience and leadership are invaluable, even when he's not captaining or playing.

"Any team that he's in, whether he's captain or not, he's always going to be a mentor and a leader around that group, whether he's playing, whether he's sitting on the sidelines, that's just who he is...he's crucial to Chennai, for that leadership that he brings on and off the field," Ponting said.

Despite recent injuries, Ponting believes Dhoni still brings an irreplaceable presence to the CSK team. He highlighted Dhoni's ability to evolve and remain impactful, a trait shared by many cricket legends.

"The best players are the ones that are able to maintain such a high level for a long time...for 10, 12, 14-year careers," he said on Dhoni's longevity.

Ponting also acknowledged that while Dhoni's role has shifted over time, with him now batting later in the innings, he continues to make significant contributions to the team.

"He's actually batting the last 20 balls of an innings now but still showing that you can make a big impact on the game by doing that," Ponting said.

Tags: #MSDhoni, #RickyPonting, #ChennaiSuperKings, #IPL, #CricketLegend